Will Love Keep Us Together

Summary: Tony Stark`s father was abusive and cruel. Tony find it hard to get through life. But with help from friends and family, he sees hope.

Story 1: Thanks for the Memories

Tony Stark was five years old, he sat in his room trying to block out the sounds of his parents arguing down stairs.

"How could you do this to me!? After everything we been through!" his mother, Maria yelled. "I've stayed by your side for 9 years, through the good and bad!" she began to cry, tears streamed down her face. "I've foolishly loved you with all my heart but now…I can't even look at you right now!"

Tony walked to the banister of the stairs and watched the scene unfold. His father, Howard walked closer to Maria and tried to reach for her hand. But she pulled away from him.

"Don't touch me!" she yelled.

"Maria it was an accident, you have to believe me." Howard told her. His voice sounded full of sadness. "I don't even remember how it happened or why. I was drunk. I was at the bar with the guys and I guess I must have drank too much and it just happened. But I didn't know her, I don't love her. I love you."

"You promised me you would never betray me! That you would never do anything to hurt me! Look where we are now! How do I know you haven't been sleeping behind my back all these years we've been together!? How do I know I wasn't just the fool who thought Howard Stark could change!? That you weren't laughing with your friends and your whores about how I was dumb enough to believe you. I- I have to go…I can't be here with you!"

"Stop staying that!" she yelled. "If you loved me you wouldn't have slept with that women! Your little game is over! Now watch me leave." She started to walk toward the stairs. Tony ran back into his room.

"Tony! Can you come to the stairs, sweetie?" Maria called up from the bottom of the stairs. Tony's came out of his room and stood at the top of the stairs.

"Tony go pack your things, were staying with grandma for a few days." Maria told him.

"I mean you're not thinking clearly. Your just gana take Tony and uproot his life. He has friends here, he goes to one of the best schools in the country. You want to take that away from him to go live in Pennsylvania? To go milk cows on some farm?"

Maria laughed.

"You don't give a damn about Tony!" She replied. "All you care about is yourself! You barley even spend time with him, you always keep yourself hidden in your lab for hours. He was in the school play last year you didn't even come. You never even showed up to any of his little league games! You've never taken care of him when he`s sick, or hurt or upset you leave that to me and Jarvis. So don't go telling me you care about him! "

The anger inside Howard built up, he so mad at her for wanting to leave. Why couldn't she believe him? And she wanted to take his only son from him. He just so made he began to speak out of anger, he wasn't even thinking about what he was saying and didn't mean much of it.

"You know what! Just go! I don't care anymore!" he yelled. "I don't need you I don't need anyone! I was doing fine before you and I'll be fine on my own again! I could have any girl in this entire city! I don't need your nagging, your yelling, complaining, and your stupid friends in my home who only seem to talk bad about me. You know why I don't go to Tony`s events because there stupid! Why should I sit through 2 hours of kindergarten's doing the wizard of oz. to see Tony play a tree for one scene? And he always sat on the bench for little league and they never won. I have more important things to be doing! I`m trying to better this world. And he never listens! I tell him all the time not to go in my lab and he does it anyways and breaks everything or hurts himself. I`m better off without the both of you."

Tony ran into his room crying and slammed the door behind him.

"Look what you did now!" Maria yelled.

Howard ran up the stairs, to Tony`s room.

"Tony!" he called out. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean what I said. Please I'm sorry."

That night Tony and Maria were gone. Howard sat on the couch in his huge mansion alone. He couldn't believe this was happening to him. He loved Maria and Tony more than anything in the world and now they were gone. He regretted spending so much time on his work and not with his family. He just wanted to be able to provide the best life he could for them. If he didn't work all those late hours in the lab some of his best invention wouldn't have been made. But he should have known that his family was important too. Now he was alone. He walked to his book shelf and brought out his photo albums. He looked through one that had "father son moments" pictures. Pictures of him and tony building go Karts, going on rides at Disney land, building a tree house, playing sports watching the history channel together, playing in the snow. He may not have always had time to spend with, but he did spend time with him. They always had fun together.

He began to remember one winter when Tony was only three. The two of them built a mini replica of the empire state building out of snow. Tony was so proud that he made something he brought everyone that was in the house outside to see it Maria, Jarvis even his Nanny.

Flashback

"Look you guys!" tony said happily as he pointed at his snow creation. "Look what me and daddy made! Isn't it cool?"

"It's beautiful!" Maria told him.

"A work of art." Jarvis commented.

"Let me get a picture of you two in front of it." Maria said as she took out a camera.

Howard and tony posed in front of their snow building. Howard sat on the ground and Tony sat on Howard`s lap. They both made silly faces in the photo and pointed to their snow creation.

Then Howard whispered something to tony and he looked up at his father and smirked. He made a snow ball then threw the snowball at his mother.

Maria looked shocked.

"Daddy told me to do it." Tony told his mom as he pointed to his father.

Howard laughed.

"Seriously you give me up that easily?" Howard asked.

Tony nodded yes. "I'm not getting in trouble."

Howard smiled. then kissed his son`s head.

Maria made herself a snow ball and threw it at Howard. Then the next thing they knew the three of them were laughing, running around and having a full on snow ball war.

The next photo album Howard looked at was more of a scrapbook. Maria`s sister, Alice, had given to Maria when she married Howard. It had thousands of pictures of Howard and Maria. The two of them at parties, at family celebrations, at holiday events etc... Alice had collected pictures from everyone they knew to create this book for them. The very first picture in the book was one from when Maria and Howard first date.

They had met at a inventor`s convention in New York city in 1965. Howard was the key note speaker at the convention he was also there to reveal his latest invention to the public. As he walked around the convention he saw Maria, with something she invented herself. Howard thought it was brilliant. He was very impressed by her knowledge of science as well as her beauty. She had curly blonde hair and blue eyes. Her skin was light and flawless of any imperfections. She dressed in red dress short sleeved dress that had white and red strips on the bottom.

Flashback

"So what's this thing?" Howard asked Maria.

Maria looked over at Howard.

"It's called the book brain helmet. "She said. "See some people cannot read due to a disability or lack of education. Some people are just lazy and don't want to read but have to for school. So I created this machine. The helmet goes on the person`s head and then the person holds the book they want to read in front of the helmet the helmet will then scan the book and input all the information in that book into the persons head."

"And this works?" he laughed.

"Everything I invent works, Mr. Stark."

"I'm sure. That's why you're sitting at a convention booth."

"If you don't believe me why don't you see for yourself."

"Fine but if this thing, blows up and I become brain damaged I will sue you." He smirked. She rolled her eyes. Then placed the helmet on his head.

"Now pick a book from the table that you've never read before." She told him.

"Alright." She held the book in front of the helmet. It scanned the book. Then made a beep noise when it was done.

"I don't feel any different." He replied.

"What is the wizard of Oz about?"

"it's about a girl named Dorothy who goes to oz. her house lands on an evil witch and kills her, who's obsessed with her sister`s shoes. So then the witch`s sister plots to kill Dorothy." Howard looked at Maria with disbelief. "Wow….that was weird. But Impressive."

Maria smiled. "Impressive is my specialty."

"How did do that? "

She looked proud of her self.

"well-"

"Oh my gosh! Its Howard Stark!" a girl shouted as she spotted Howard. "Oh my gosh! Can I get an autograph?"

Howard smiled. "Sure."

The girl took out a notebook and Howard signed for her. The girl walked away.

"Not really, it's kind of nice. I grew up having nothing. My family was dirt poor and no one ever paid any attention to me. They teased me because I was sort of…nerdy. So it's kind of nice to have the attention and be liked."

"Believe it because it's true. "He replied. "We once lived on the streets and had to beg for scraps. Not one my happiest moments." He looked at her eyes. They were beautiful. She was an angel among nerds.

"So what's your story?" he asked.

"I don't have one."

"Come on everyone has a story. I just told you that I, Howard stark, used to be poor come on tell me something about you."

"Well…I lived on a farm in Pennsylvania. We had horses, chickens, cows and pigs. It was very dull. "

"A farm girl? Don't meet many of those around here. "

"I hated the farm life so when I went to college I went NYU, got a degree and have been living in the city."

"How would you like to go on date with me? I got these tickets to the world premiere of the "sound of music."

She smiled.

"It would be my pleasure."

Howard remember that after that night he knew Maria was one. They liked the same things, they had the same sense of humor. They talked for hours about Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison.

Howard realized he had to convince Maria to come back. She was the love of his life and he didn't want to lose her. He took one of his private jets to Maria`s mother`s home in pennslvaya. He walked up the steps of the worn out farm house. The house was white with orange windows all around the side. He could hear animals making noises in the back. He knocked on the door and her sister Alice answered the door. Alice had short straight blonde hair and green eyes. Her skin was light and she was dressed in a red flannel shirt and dirty blue jeans.

"Alice, I need to talk to Maria." Howard told her.

"She doesn't want to see or talk to you." Alice you replied. "You low life, womanizer! How could you betray her? She was the best thing that ever happened to you! But you know what? You don't deserve her."

"Look I want to make things right. Just talk to her and I promise I'll leave. I just need to-"

"Just stop!" Alice yelled. "This isn't gana happen! I know you're used to getting what you want but that's not gana happen today!"

Then Howard noticed tony was watching by the door. Howard looked over to tony and smiled. Tony then ran over to his father and hugged him.

"Daddy I miss you!" Tony said aloud.

"I miss you too." Howard replied.

"When are you and mommy gana make up and fall in love again?"

Howard smiled.

"I'm working on it, Buddy."

Maria was walking through the house when she saw Howard with tony.

"What is he doing here?" Maria asked looking at Alice.

"I tried to get him to leave." Alice replied.

Howard walked into the house.

"Maria, I need to talk to you." Howard said.

"Get out! I don't want to hear it!" she yelled.

"Well your gana hear it. I have never loved anyone like I love you. You're beautiful and perfect in every way."

Maria rolled her eyes.

"We've had so many great memories together. I have cherished every moment that I've spent with and Tony. You know? You and Tony always know how to make me laugh. And you're one of the few people who think I'm funny. Plus we enjoy the same activates and want the same things out of life. I did cheat, and I'm sorry. But I swear to you it wasn't on purpose. It was a drunken mistake. And this was the only time this has happened. Think about. I can't get away with small thing around you. What makes you think I could get away with cheating on you for years? It wouldn't happen. Remember I had broken your favorite wine glass, I fixed it and you still knew I broke it somehow. When I through you that surprise party once, you woke up that morning and was like this surprise party better be good. If I couldn't get away with these small things what makes you think I could get away with cheating. Plus I wouldn't be able to do that to you. When I meet you I didn't want be with anyone else. I only wanted to be with you, all the time. I love you. I`m not just saying it to say it. I truly and deeply love you with all my heart.

She smiled at him.

"I love you too." She hugged him. "I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions, I'm sorry. I could see and hear that you meant you what you said just now." She smiled. "I think it's time me and tony came home."

Howard smiled a huge smile. Then kissed Maria passionately. His mind goes back to the day he married Maria.

They had gotten married at The Memorial Presbyterian Church in St. Augustine, Florida. The year was 1967. Howard was in back room of the church before the wedding as Jarvis was fixing Howard`s tie.

"Well I never thought this day would come." Howard commented. "Who`d ever think that I would get married and settle down."

"It's nothing short of a miracle, sir." Jarvis replied.

Howard smirked.

"I really hope I don't screw this up, she is the best thing that has ever happened to me."

"You`ll do fine. I`m sure of it."

"Thanks. You've always been a friend when I needed one. Your good man."

"And so are you Mr. Stark." Jarvis told him.

"Well I guess it's time to get this show on the road." Howard said.

Howard stood by the priest in his black tux and his hair combed back. He watched as Maria came down the aisle her hair in curls in a half up half down look. She wore a dress in a long beautiful form fitted dress. It was white with all kinds of lace all over it. It had a short sleeved shawl. She walked to him with a smile on her face. He lifted her veil and took her hands in his. There was over 50,000 people there to watch the event but Maria was the only person he cared about in that moment.

"We are to unite these two in the bond of marriage. The bride and groom have written their own wedding vows. Maria, you may start."

"I vow to love you with all my heart." Maria said to Howard. "To be your rock when things get tough. To bring joy into your life and love. I promise to support you in your projects and help if you let me. To smile when things are bad and to always be there to make you happy."

"I vow to be all you ever need." Howard replied. To help you throughout your life and give you all the happiness you deserve. To listen to all that you say to me and talk out any problems we have. I will never betray you or hurt you in anyway. I will be the person to pick you up when life gets you down."

"do you Maria Sanders (I don't remember what her real maiden name was) take Howard Stark to have and to hold in sickness and in health for as long as you both shall live?" the priest asked.

"I do." Maria replied, tears of joy streaming from her eyes.

"Do you Howard Stark take Maria sanders to have and to hold in sickness and in health for as long as you both shall live do." the priest asked.

"I do." Howard replied looking into Maria`s eyes and wiping the tears away from her face with his hand.

"By the power vested in me. I now pronounce you Husband and Wife. You may now kiss the bride."

Tinkerbelle Leonhardt:
I'm such a sucker for this story, yes there are small spelling mistakes normal human errors, nothing major. you fall in love with the characters and wish to be apart of their lives from the start. You feel their happiness, their sadness and I found myself smiling through most of it, I love that i...

Adebola Olabenjo:
I'm not really into reading as it bores me out but when I came across this great book, i knew i could manage to read it.The characters are indeed very interesting and I like the twin characters especially.The description is quite captivating and the book is full of drama, romance, jealousy and go...

Je13ss:
Where do I even begin? This book is amazing! It has had the ability to keep me absolutely glued to my phone wanting to finish it to the very last word of the very last chapter. I'm excited for the next update. Ecstatic! The author has done a superb job in truly describing the characters and allow...

Chandni:
though "obsession" is something which is not socially appreciated as it can go either way... means when the person you love gets obsessed with you and showers you with enormous love and care and tenderness- that is called bliss, and when that person harms you cause he doesn't know how to deal wit...

kswear79:
I’ve loved all the books I’ve read and been drawn in so much so that I’ve downloaded this app to stay connected with the characters. I loved Chase & Chloe and can’t wait to keep up with them!

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